EAST HADDAM, CT (WFSB) -
There were some tense moments on board a school bus in East Haddam on Tuesday morning when a vehicle lost control and slammed into it.
The incident was reported on Route 151, also known as Town Street around 7:15 a.m.
According to emergency officials, the bus had just dropped off students at the Hale Ray High School and was heading to the middle school when the car spun out of control and veered into the path of the bus.
"I don't know how he ended up how he did, but he was definitely sideways in the road and the bus met him," said East Haddam resident Donnie Velez.
Firefighters needed to pry the driver's side door open in order to get the driver, who is only being identified as a high school student, out of the vehicle.
Connecticut State Police said the crash was reported in the middle of a heavy downpour.
"I don't know what happened, but I heard a bang, looked around the corner and saw the bus," Velez said.
State police said the bus was heading north and the Toyota 4-Runner was traveling south when the driver said he began to hydroplane and crashed.
"The bus driver she was as pale as a ghost, looked very nervous and the poor kid, you could definitely tell his morning was ruined," Velez said.
He was brought to Marlborough Clinic just to get checked out for what state police said are minor injuries.
The approximately 15 middle school students on board the bus at the time of the crash were all evaluated and brought to school.
"None of them seemed to be startled at all," Velez said. "They seemed to be smiling, excited. Not that someone was hurt, but their bus was in an accident. It was new for them."
The crash is under investigation.
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A school bus and vehicle crashed in East Haddam on Tuesday morning.
